Hi all! I am really excited about this blog series I am doing with a bunch of blog friends of mine. We are going to be adding once a month “behind the blogger” info to share with our readers. Who we are? Why we blog? and all kinds of fun facts that you may not know about the writer behind the page that you know and love. So here we go…
Spilling all!
First of all for anyone who is new here my name is Deb and I have been blogging for about two years now. I happened to try this thing out called “blogging” when we were on the hunt for a new house. The amount of readers that read my blog back then was a total of ZERO! I mean seriously zero readers. I had no idea what I was doing and curious how Dear Lillie had become so successful at this thing (I thought she and handful of other bloggers were like the only bloggers out there) I know naive right. Well, it turned into a lot of work, lots of frustration, but something I felt so driven to do.
(I mean LOOK at this photo…these are the photos I use to post to the blog eeek…! Camera phone at Night time?)
It felt like I had something that was mine. Does that make sense? I think as mom’s and wive’s we tend to lose who we are and having a hobby or just a daily task that makes us happy, minus drinking coffee, is something to strive for.
Well…so it began, a new camera, link parties? (yep, took me some time to figure that one out too), and just the hard constant work of what a blogger does every day. Though my numbers are still not quite where I would love them to be two years later..I’ve come to realize I am a bit of a slower learner and I have quite a full plate at home besides blogging that it may just take me longer to be at my actual “number” goal of blogging. I’ve come to realize that small accomplishments each day keep me going.
I really started this blogging journey because I thought it would be fun. I had always loved designing and after I built my first coffee table in our apartment with my hubby…I knew I could totally do more of this DIY thing and share it with the world.
Here is that Coffee table that I still love and use.
Now, my goals in blogging have changed, I would love to be able to quit my job some day and stay focused on blogging and designing. I would love to expand my Lavender Lane Interiors business and hopefully be published in a magazine or maybe just a really fabulous website. I think some smaller personal goals of mine too (which is going to sound so pageant queen like) is to honestly not Quit! and prove to myself I can actually do this. I have quit so many things in the past, whether it was because something was too hard or I just lost interest. I don’t want this to be another one for me. I work so hard at this everyday for the last two years…I don’t want to end in failure.
Though I’ve talked so much about how hard blogging can be it honestly is so thrilling as well. The process of coming up with a project and post it is so exciting. I love when I have a project in my mind and then the day I get the hubby to actually get to the hardware store to buy the supplies and we spend the night working on it together (is my favorite part). Once the project is complete and better than I even imagined it…to post it and share it with everyone and hit that publish button is butterflies in the belly. Bloggers love supporting each other and we seriously LOVE a great DIY. You become part of this world where everyone gets you. We are all so much a like working and striving towards the same thing. Even better though is when I get design questions or even just a question about what paint color I use from my readers. I can not even tell you how much joy I get out of that. It truly feels like I can make a design difference in this world. We are all called to do different things in life and I pray everyday that the Lord will truly guide me to his work, to find what he wants me to do…and though that seems so minor I feel it’s one step closer to what he has designed me for. I may not be able to perform open heart surgery, but I can make a difference in how someone feels when they walk into their house each day.
Since I had so many questions about my colors I shared this on my sidebar about a week ago.
My blogging days truly have taken on quite a roller coaster ride. I went from knowing nothing, to working hard, and then being too busy just a year ago to almost quitting ,and then bouncing back and working harder than ever, and then finally taking that big uphill adventure to Haven (a design conference in Atlanta, GA this past July) that truly helped with questions and encouragement. I think if I could go back though and change anything about my blogging experience it would be to really have learned more about it, joined facebook much earlier, and not have forced so many projects out onto the blog before the blog was ready for them.
Giving advice to newbie bloggers is tough for me. I feel like I am still a newbie blogger somehow….you know almost like that adult that hasn’t yet realized he grew up a bit. Well…I guess I can say is make friends with other bloggers ( a huge change on my blog and my life) and be yourself. I think the one piece of information I learned at Haven was to find who your blog is. Create a brand and don’t be afraid to be you. I happen to be one to make a ton of mistakes in my life. I have never been perfect at anything. Not a straight A student or really a perfectionist at all. Ask anyone that knows me one of my biggest down falls in life is that I forget everything. Now when I mean everything that won’t mean if we met tomorrow and you gave me your birth date that I would forget that….numbers, dates, and events in my life I can remember to a “T”, but you tell me to call someone tomorrow…or don’t forget that apt…more than likely if I don’t flash it somewhere on one of my many chalkboards in my house…I will certainly forget it. I have always been that way since I was a kid and not quite sure why…but it’s one of my biggest downfalls in life. Quite frustrating actually! So, just to share that so you know you are not dealing with Martha Stewart over here ( though I truly want to be her) I make tons of mistakes in my projects, measure wrong all day long, and buy the wrong thing, or even misread a blog post and paint my concrete counters instead of staining them. This is my life and I am finally okay with sharing that with everyone. Though you may not make nearly as many mistakes I make, I hope I can prepare you not to…while still realizing that the person on the other end is just human. My house is not perfect, nor my projects…I’m just me and I love doing what I do!
Be sure to check out my friend’s pages who are also sharing about themselves and their blogging experience!
20 Responses
Girl, you have it in you! Your first blog picture is not that bad. Mine are HORRIBLE….I had to delete a plethora of post because it sucked. I really like your coffee table you DIYed—so cool, I like the colors you chose. The rim of the coffee table looks like welded metal. Wow, you went to Haven! I hope to attend next year….I have been blogging for about the same length as you and I am still trying to figure things out…Thanks.
Jessica recently posted…Behind the Blogger: Get To Know Me
Aww thank you so much Jessica! It’s quite a process blogging…the longer you do it the more you learn, but amazing how so many things you come to realize that you didn’t know. I feel like every two months I improve at something lol. Can’t wait to go to your page and learn more about you!
You are such an inspiration! I’m only a year in and I feel like I’m so clueless and so far behind. I appreciate your “realness” in this post and it motivates me to keep going because I’m not the only one and we are all still learning and improving. I LOVE your blog and I think you are doing wonderful 🙂 I hope someday you are able to meet your goal of making this your full time job.
Thank you so much Shara! You are so sweet…I’m so glad this motivates you. We are not all over night successes, but it has to truly be your passion to keep going.
Hi Deb,
It is good to learn more about you. I have been running a feature on my blog for over 2 years called Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger and it has been very successful to get bloggers together and to let bloggers get to know the more personal side of the person behind the blog. Hope you are successful with this very similar feature. It is fun to learn more about the person behind the blog and also introducing new bloggers to each other. Good luck.
Kris
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage recently posted…Je t aime Boudior
Thank you Kris! That sounds amazing that you do that! Just a few of us will be sharing a new topic each month about ourselves and blogging…so it should be a fun way to open up to our readers.
You are awesome Deb! Many of your thoughts about blogging were very similar to mine. I thought there were only a few blogs out there, my pics were not wonderful, and I recently joined Facebook for my blog. It was wonderful to get to know you more and can’t wait to see how much you grow in the blogiverse!
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins recently posted…Behind the Blogger!
Thank you Steph! I’m glad we all go through the same thing…we can’t all be an over night success…and it really is quite a learning process. There is always something new to learn.
OK, first… love that coffee table! You are genius. Second, thank you for showing your early photography. Not only can I relate — but thats so great for people to see! This is how we learn as bloggers… trial and error until we find our voice! Thanks for sharing!
Jen @ Fresh Crush recently posted…Behind the Blogger – Fresh Crush
Thank you Jen! That means a ton…I’m glad I showcased that photo…I had good reaction to it! Seriously I can not believe the stuff I would post out there…but its all a learning process and a journey!
Girl this is just what I needed to read! I have just started blogging in July and everything seems so overwhelming. Sometimes it is a good reminder that we all go thriu g the struggles and we are all here to learn from one another. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us ?
Thank you Angeline! That means so much! I am so glad this can be inspiring to new bloggers!
I love your blog, Deb. While I don’t always comment, I love your projects and the variety of posts you share!! Hope you are having a great holiday and I look forward to reading more in this series!
Benita recently posted…Just a Quick Note….
Thank you so much Benita! So sweet of you…I always love when you stop by and leave me a comment!
I loved this post! So heart felt and truly genuine! Like Jen said I love that you posted an early photo picture! Learning from other bloggers is a huge part of this world of blogging and we aren’t all perfect! I adore your blog and love everything you create!
Thank you so much Ruthie! That means a lot…it’s so great to really just have an honest look of what happens to us bloggers, why we do this, and what keeps up motivated. I am glad we took this on…to see the reactions from so many sweet readers is incredible!
Loved hearing about your blogging journey!
Erin recently posted…Create a Simple and Functional Command Center
Thanks Erin!
It always makes me feel better to read about other bloggers who have had their share of struggles and successes. I’ve been blogging for about six months now, and sometimes I’m just glad to get a few page views a day! Love your blog!
Vineta @ The Handyman’s Daughter recently posted…5 Table Lamps I Love (and where to buy them)
Hi Vineta, It can be something so frustrating when you work so hard on it…but keep going! Thank you for your sweet words!